More arrests possible in '94 homicide

Special prosecutor says grand jury to meet to hear more evidence

By BOB GARDINIER Staff writer

Updated 9:46 am, Thursday, June 30, 2011

TROY -- A special prosecutor who has brought murder indictments against two men for the 17-year-old killing of Rosemary Crosier said a grand jury will meet next week to hear more evidence and that more arrests could soon follow.

Special Prosecutor Robert Becher made the comments Wednesday following a hearing for Scott Chaplin, 34, of Ahearn Avenue, who was charged with murder in the case and wants to be freed on bail pending trial.

Becher did not reveal what evidence will be presented to the grand jury or how many more people will face charges in the case, only commenting that more arrests are likely.

In statements made to police, both men mention the names of others in a circle of associates at the time who hung out together and smoked crack and marijuana and pulled off petty crimes for drug money.

Becher has said that Crosier was killed during a robbery and her wallet with a large amount of cash inside, which she had that night, was missing and never found.

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According to depositions filed in the case, Sgt. Robert Paul, now a captain with the Troy Police Department, supplied an affidavit in March 1994 saying Mott told him he drove two men, Jeff Morgan and Chaplin, to where Crosier was killed.

Mott told detectives that Morgan was Chaplin's brother and that he drove them to Prout Avenue in a blue Yugo owned by Christine "Cricket'' Parnel, but the car was often driven by Morgan's and Scott Chaplin's, cousin Michael Chaplin. Another person who hung out with the group was Billy ''Poo Bear'' Chaplin, another cousin of Scott Chaplin's, Mott told detectives.

"I know that Scott Chaplin, Billy Chaplin and Jeff Morgan all smoke crack and that Jeff would drive them around where they would break into cars to steal stuff to get money for crack,'' Mott told Paul in a statement.

In the statements, police ask Mott about a small blue car that a worker reported to police because it was blocking access to a dumpster outside the group home the night of the murder.

Mott said he overheard a telephone conversation between Scott and Billy Chaplin after the murder.

"Billy was yelling at Scott on the phone 'Look what you got me into' and 'You got me into a fine mess," Mott said. He also said Billy threatened to beat Scott up.

Mott also told police that Billy Chaplin tried to convince him not to talk to police. "I have had conversations with Billy about Rosemary Crosier's murder and I feel that Billy knows more about it than what he has said,'' Mott said in the statement.

Mott also told detectives that after the murder, Michael Chaplin told them he had "flipped" the Yugo and was going to take it to a junk yard and have it crushed.

"Mike did not say where he flipped the car and he did not have any injuries,'' Mott said. "Mike said he was alone when he flipped the car over. Charlene (Mott's girlfriend at the time) and I looked at the car and we did not see any damage on it.''

Neither Morgan, Billy and Michael Chaplin, nor Parnel have been charged in connection with the crime.